31 higher education leaders gathered for the seventh run of Leadership Development Programme in Higher Education Institutions in Southeast Asia (LDP-HEIs in SEA) which ran from 23 September to 18 November 2025.
The participants from 24 HEIs across six ASEAN countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam) met online for five sessions and in-person for three-days at IPB University in Bogor, Indonesia to learn about innovative practices and get inspired.
The over-arching theme for this run is “Designing and Leading Your University to the Desired Future” with emphasis on future readiness: anticipating change, adapting, and leading with intention.
In Southeast Asia, higher education institutions face similar challenges — demographic changes, funding constraints, pressures for internationalisation, demands from the labour market, competition, and digital disruption. Bringing together leaders from across higher education institutions in Southeast Asia through this programme provides them with opportunities to connect and support each other.
The programme was opened on 23 September by representatives of the organising parties, namely Dr Mercedita Sombilla, Center Director for SEAMEO SEARCA, Mr Vignesh Louis Naidu, Director, Operations at The HEAD Foundation and Dr Eva Anggraini, Director of Global Connectivity, IPB University.
Over the next three months, the participants discussed key issues with academics and practitioners from Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore and programme alumni. The sessions were facilitated by Programme Director Dr Natarajan Varaprasad, alongside trainers Dr Calvin Chan and Dr Rebekah Lim from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
During the face-to-face segment in Bogor in October, Dr Arif Satria, SP, MSi, Rector of IPB University gave a keynote lecture on “Bridging Tradition and Innovation: Perspective on Leadership” and addressed participants queries.
Participants then visited IPB Museum, Agribusiness and Technology Park, Science Techno Park, and Serambi Botanic to learn about their technology and infrastructure, research, innovation and commercialisation, and engagement with stakeholders such as start-up innovators. The trip also included a visit to Rumah Tempe where they learned about how the company produces tempe.
During the LDP-HEIs, participants formed a Re-Entry Action Plan (REAP) with the guidance of the programme faculty. Most participants identified modernising and reviewing their curriculum, increasing partnerships and internationalisation, stakeholder engagement, building capacity and improving their university’s accreditation and ranking as intervention areas for their REAP.
The programme officially closed on 18 November after participants showcased their REAPs. We congratulate the participants for giving their all and completing the programme, and wish them all the best as they drive change within their respective HEIs.
Watch Dr Varaprasad give a brief recap of this year’s run.
